Coproduced and Low Temperature Geothermal Resources as Electrical Power Producers Timothy Reinhardt 1, Lyle A. Johnson 2 and Neil Popovich 3 U.S.DOE s GTP 1, RMOTC 2 and NREL 3
Location of RMOTC NPR-3 is 35 miles north of Casper, WY 9481 acres 650+ wells 9 Oil producing formations 2 formations > 200 F Geothermal Gradient is ~ twice normal gradient Produced brine of high quality (2500 3000 TDS) Extensive recharge region Government owned and operated
Project Goals Show the relative seamless integration of the technology into the oil field infrastructure. Demonstration of the long term operations of binary power generation units in an oil field environment Provide data for determining reliability, efficiency and system economics Provide testing of innovations to improve the system efficiency Provide a testing facility for testing of units with both lowtemperature and co-produced fluids All data will be available to the entire geothermal industry. Collaborating partners Geothermal Technologies Program, U.S.DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Initial Binary Unit Ormat nominal 250 kw ORC unit Isopentane working fluid Air cooled condenser Unit installed under testing program with Ormat Technologies
Sep 08 Feb 09 Sep 09 May 11 Temperature, F; Power, KW Operational Trends 350.0 Phase 1 Phase 2 300.0 250.0 Optimum Actual 200.0 150.0 100.0 Design Ambient Temperature 50.0 0.0-50.0
Operational Summary Design Operational Results Phase 1 Phase 2 Flow rate, bpd 40,000 12,000 to 40,000 11,000 to 50,000 Total hot water used, bbl 3,047,192 9,077,323 Inlet water temperature, F 170 195 to 198 196 to 198 Outlet water temperature, F 152 80 to 170 47 to 150 Average ambient temp., F 50-7 to 85-2 to 81 Generator gross power, kw 180 105 to 305 105 to300 Daily avg. net power output, kw 132 80 to 280 80 to 275 Overall avg. net power, kw 171 190 Total power produced, MWhr 586 1,595 Phase 2 has produced over 1,595 megawatt hours of power from 9.1 million barrels of coproduced hot water Total produced power from the unit is 2,181 megawatt hours of power from 12.1million barrels of coproduced hot water Online percentage for the unit, eliminating downtime caused by field activities, has been a 97%
Second Binary Test Unit Pratt & Whitney Pure Cycle 280 Genetron 245fa operating fluid Water cooled Condenser
Project Plans Continue operation of the air-cooled unit for a minimum of 2 more years Finalize installation and commence operation of a watercooled power generation unit of a nominal 250 kw capacity for three years Perform data collection, data analysis and information dissemination for both units. Integrate non proprietary data into the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) Evaluate system improvements that increase system efficiency and provide better system economics. Seek improvements suggestions from other sources. During this time, RMOTC will also be operating a test facility for smaller geothermal systems and is developing plans for EGS applications and testing
Project Plans - NREL Data Collection and Information Dissemination Continuously monitor/record data on the Ormat and UTC unit Collect/analyze data: Power output Parasitic losses Ambient weather effects System temperatures, pressures and flow rates Modeling system parameters to evaluate system improvements: system efficiency, LCOE, base load power offset. Integration of non proprietary data into the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) Data display screens of non proprietary data will be made available to the public System Improvements Evaluation of hybrid cooling technologies and other power output improvement technologies
Project Plans Data Collection and Information Dissemination Continuously monitor/record data on the Ormat and UTC unit Collect/analyze data: Power output Parasitic losses Ambient weather effects System temperatures, pressures and flow rates Modeling system parameters to evaluate system improvements: system efficiency, LCOE, base load power offset. Integration of non proprietary data into the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) Data display screens of non proprietary data will be made available to the public System Improvements Evaluation of hybrid cooling technologies and other power output improvement technologies
Program Participants Collaborators on this project are: U.S.DOE/RMOTC Operation, maintenance and analysis of the power systems; install and evaluate innovations to the power systems; funding U.S.EERE/GTP - Provide guidance and oversight; seek innovative concepts and ideas related to system improvements; and funding National Renewable Energy Laboratory Data acquisition; efficiency and economic analysis; develop innovations to increase net power output
Thank You